Warm welcome as Roy returns from wilderness
Keane's return was confirmed in a one-sentence statement from his legal adviser Michael Kennedy. The former captain was not available for comment.
The information available to the press yesterday confirmed that Keane, who is 32, had changed his mind about playing again for Ireland after declining an invitation from Kerr upon his appointment as manager a little more than 12 months ago.
It was also suggested that Keane's future appearances would not be exclusively for competitive matches but that he was likely to play in some if not all upcoming friendly games against Poland, Romania and Netherlands, and in two other matches against Nigeria and Jamaica that are under negotiation.
Ireland will be using these matches to develop the team for the kick-off of the World Cup qualifying tournament in September.
Ireland open their campaign with a home match against Cyprus on September 4 and play Switzerland away on September 8.
"I welcome this development. It has always been my view that Ireland should be represented by the best players available and it is my belief that Roy Keane is one of Ireland's best-ever internationals," said Mr Rooney.
"His name would always be the first on my team sheet and his return reflects the professional ability of Brian Kerr and also the new professionalism that is evident in the FAI."
Brian Kerr was not available for interview but issued a statement through the FAI in which he said: "Since our initial meeting following my appointment 15 months ago, when the player had clearly indicated his desire to play for Ireland, we have been in occasional contact.
"The issue for him was establishing a basis by which his club, Manchester United, would facilitate that desire.
"Roy Keane had to resolve that problem himself."
Kerr linked the decision to welcome Keane back to international with resignations over the past 12 months of goalkeeper Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic) and full-back Gary Kelly (Leeds United).
"A number of weeks ago, I spoke about the fact that there were some Irish players playing at the top level who had chosen, for a variety of reasons, to retire from international football," he said.
"Playing for the international team is demanding. It involves hard work when you are free of your contractual obligations with your club. It involves working with a different management team that has set ideas which may well be different to those which you experience at the club."
Only last week Lee Carsley retired from international football and Kerr provided an insight into his own feelings on wearing Ireland's international shirt when he said: "To represent your country is however, to my judgement, the greatest honour any athlete can experience.
"It was for that reason I wanted all those players who had retired early to know that it would be possible to make themselves available again in the event that they ever had a change of heart."
Keane last played for Ireland in 2002 when they lost to Nigeria at Lansdowne Road on the eve of their departure for the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.
Ireland's impact on the tournament, when they reached the last 16 only to lose to Spain in a penalty shoot-out, was overshadowed by the turmoil that attended a week-long break in Saipan prior to the tournament's start.
Keane clashed with manager Mick McCarthy and finally walked out on the World Cup tournament after an acrimonious meeting between the manager, his staff and the players.
Kerr met with Keane when he took over as manager but on the eve of the Dubliner's first match, a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow, he received word from Manchester that Keane would not return.
In his statement yesterday Kerr said: "I am glad that one of the greatest players ever to play for Ireland has chosen this path. It cannot have been an easy decision for him but his desire to represent his country is immense.
"We met last week and discussed everything about his decision in great detail. He had addressed the issue with his club before that meeting and they are aware of his decision to make himself available for international duty with immediate effect.
"I look forward to working with Roy Keane.
"He brings quality and experience to a potentially excellent squad of players whose sole focus is the World Cup qualifying matches next autumn."
Said Fran Rooney: "We have a very difficult qualifying tournament to play in the World Cup with matches against France, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus and the Faroe Islands and it is important that Ireland is represented by the strongest possible team.
"We all know the heartache of failing to qualify for the European Championship finals and we do not want to experience that again.
"It is important that we give ourselves the best possible chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006 and that means putting on the pitch the very best players we have available.
"Roy Keane has a proven record at international level in almost 60 appearances for Ireland and with so many young players coming through to the squad in the past 12 months his experience will be invaluable to Brian Kerr and his coaching staff."
It remains to be seen whether Keane will travel with Ireland to play Poland in a friendly match on April 28.
It also remains to be seen whether the captaincy of the team will be taken from Kenny Cunningham and restored to Keane when next he wears the Irish international shirt.
MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson last night said he had given Roy Keane his full backing in his decision to return to the international fold.
"I'm pleased for Roy," Ferguson said prior to last night's Premiership meeting with Leicester. "He's made a good decision for all parties concerned. I think it is a good decision for them.
"There has been some dialogue between Brian and Roy in the last couple of weeks, and they have come to the feeling this was a good time to go back in order to qualify for the next World Cup."
Ferguson is not worried Keane might no longer be a 100% United player. "In this case I would say it is a very good decision for Roy and I support it 100%," the Scot said.
Ironically Keane played no part in the game last night having failed to recover from the bumps and bruises that kept him out of Saturday's win at Birmingham.
His absence raised further doubts over his ability to play for club and country.
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